Quadrature differential charge commutation sensor enabling wide bandwith field mills and other electrostatic field measuring devices

摘要

An electrostatic field sensor configuration and supporting signal processing electronics provides a wider bandwidth than prior art sensors, thus enabling the present sensor to replace three prior art instruments in the application of measuring atmospheric electricity. The quadrature, differential characteristics of the present sensor also provide suppression of unwanted disturbances and more accurate electrostatic field measurements. Besides application in the geophysical instrument known as a field mill, the present sensor may be employed in any system for measuring quasi-static and rapidly changing electrostatic fields.